Sponsored By

Here are the current temporary restrictions imposed on bars and restaurants to stem the spread of coronavirus

Nation’s Restaurant News will update this list as more cities and states implement limits

NRN staff

March 23, 2020

7 Min Read
coronavirus-covid-19-closures.jpg
As coronavirus or COVID-19 sickens more people, states and municipalities are takin precautions. See live updates here.Getty Images

As the coronavirus epidemic continues to spread throughout the United States, local and state governments are implementing temporary measures to limit the number of people gathering at restaurants and bars. 

Nation’s Restaurant News has collected the most recent restrictions from official statements and news reports.

Updated at 1 p.m. EST March 23.

As of March 23, all but 7 states have officially eliminated dine in due to coronavirus: Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia.

As of March 20, all California residents are being asked to shelter in place.

As of March 16 at 2 p.m. EST, the CDC recommends gatherings of no more than 50 people.

Here are the limits currently imposed at the state level:  

Alabama: Restaurants and bars will be closed for dine in through April 5. Drive thru, takeout and delivery will be available.

Alaska: Restaurants will be closed for dine in but takeout, delivery and drive thru will still be available.

Arizona: Restaurants and bars will be closed for dine in through March 31. Drive thru, delivery and takeout will be available.

Arkansas: Restaurants and bars will be closed but drive thru, delivery and takeout will be available. For 30 days, beginning March 19, restaurants and bars will be able to sell beer and wine for off-site consumption.

California: Bars, nightclubs, wineries and brewpubs are closed. Restaurants and bars will be closed but takeout, delivery and drive thru will be available.

Colorado: Restaurants and bars will be closed for dine from 8 a.m. March 17 for 30 days. Delivery, drive thru and takeout will be available.

Connecticut: Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned. Restaurants and bars are restricted to delivery and takeout only, effective March 16 at 8 p.m.

Delaware: Dine in at restaurants and bars will be closed but takeout, delivery and drive thru will be available.

Florida: Bars and nightclubs will be closed for the next 30 days. Restaurants are restricted to delivery, takeout and drive thru.

Georgia: Dine in at restaurants will be closed. Takeout, delivery and drive thru will be available.

Hawaii: Restaurants and bars must close for dine in but takeout, delivery and drive thru will be available.

Idaho: Restaurants and bars must close for dine in for 30 days beginning March 21 at 12:01 a.m. but takeout, delivery and drive thru will be allowed.

Illinois: Restaurants and bars must close dining rooms through March 30, but delivery, takeout and curbside pickup allowed.

Indiana: Bars and restaurants must close through March 31, but takeout and delivery are allowed.

Iowa: Restaurants and bars must close through March 31 for dine in, but takeout and delivery are allowed.

Kansas: Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited, effectively closing dine in but that has not been specifically mandated at this time.

Kentucky: Restaurants and bars must be closed with limited exceptions for takeout and delivery.

Louisiana: Restaurants and bars will be closed until April 13 except for takeout or delivery. Gatherings of 50 or more people are prohibited.

Maine: Restaurants and bars will be closed for dine in through 6 p.m. on March 31. Drive thru, takeout and delivery will be available.

Maryland: Restaurants and bars must close until further notice at 5 p.m. on March 16 but carryout, delivery and drive-thru are allowed.

Massachusetts: Gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited. Bars and restaurants must remain closed for dine in March 17 through April 5, but delivery and takeout are allowed.

Michigan: Restaurant and bar dining rooms are closed as of March 16 at 3 p.m. Delivery, takeout and drive-thru are allowed.

Minnesota: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in from 5 p.m. March 17 until 5 p.m. March 27. Delivery, takeout and drive-thru are allowed.

Missouri: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in through April 6 and gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited. Takeout, delivery and drive thru will be allowed.

Montana: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in through 11:59 p.m. March 27. Drive thru, takeout and delivery will be allowed.

Nebraska: Restaurants and bars will be delivery, drive thru and takeout only.

Nevada: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in until further notice beginning at 12 p.m. March 18. Delivery, drive thru and takeout are still available.

New Hampshire: Dine in at restaurants and bars will be closed March 17-April 7. Delivery, takeout and drive thru will be available.

New Jersey: Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned and a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be enforced. Restaurants and bars will be delivery and takeout only, all effective March 16.

New Mexico: Restaurants and bars must close through April 10. Delivery, takeout and drive thru will be available.

New York state: Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned. Restaurants and bars are restricted to delivery and takeout only, effective March 16 at 8 p.m.

North Carolina: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in until further notice beginning at 5 p.m. March 17 but will be open for takeout, delivery and drive thru.

North Dakota: Bars and restaurants will be closed for dine in indefinitely, but takeout, delivery and drive thru will be available.

Ohio: Restaurants and bars must close dining rooms, but delivery and takeout are allowed.

Oregon: Restaurants and bars must close for dine in for one month, beginning on March 17. Gatherings of 25 or more people are prohibited.

Pennsylvania: Restaurants and bars must close dining rooms until March 27 but takeout and delivery are allowed. State-run liquor stores will close indefinately beginning March 16 at 9 p.m.

Rhode Island: All dine-in and food services will be shuttered until March 30, and public gatherings will be limited to 25 people or less. Drive-thru and takeout are allowed with a re-evaluation by the governor in two weeks.

South Carolina: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in but takeout, delivery and drive thru are still allowed.

Tennessee: Restaurants and bars must close for dine in through April 6, but delivery, taleout and drive thru are still allowed.

Texas: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine but takeout, delivery and drive thru are still allowed. Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited.

Utah: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in. Takeout, delivery and drive thru will be allowed.

Vermont: Restaurants and bars are clossed for dine in starting close of business March 17 through April 6; delivery and take out are still available. Gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited.

Washington: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in; public gatherings are limited to 50 or fewer people. Takeout and delivery allowed.

West Virginia: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in; public gatherings are limited to 10 or fewer people. Takeout and delivery are allowed.

Wisconsin: Restaurants and bars are prohibited from serving food on premises but delivery, takeout and drive thru are still available.

Wyoming: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in through April 3. Drive thru, delivery and takeout will be available.

Here are the limits currently imposed at the municipal level: 

Atlanta: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in until further notice beginning at midnight March 20. Takeout and delivery are still allowed.

Dallas County TX: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in for a week after March 16 at minimum. Gatherings of more than 50 people are now prohibited.

Harris County, TX: Bars are closed effective modnight March 16.

Houston, TX: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in for at least 15 days, effective 8 a.m. on March 17.

Jackson, Mississippi: Restaurants and bars must close for dine in.

Los Angeles County: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in through March 31. Delivery, drive-thru and takeout are allowed.

Miami-Dade County: Restaurants and bars with more than seating for eight people are closed for dine in. Kitchens will remain open for drive thru and delivery.

New Orleans: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in but delivery, drive-thru and takeout are allowed.

Orange County, Calif: Restaurants and bars are closed for dine in through March 31. Delivery, drive thru and takeout are allowed

San Antonio, TX: Gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited.

Washington, D.C.: Restaurants and bars will close at 10 p.m. on March 16 until April 1. Takeout and delivery will still be allowed.

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.

You May Also Like